Chapter 37: New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve was upon them. The boys had planned a big bash for the evening. The twins had decorated once again, in black and white, and there were copious amounts of alcohol present. Severus, Hermione, Ginny and Draco had spent the morning brewing enough hangover potions for everyone as well as a batch of sobriety potion in case it was needed.
"So what are we doing at this so called big bash of yours?" Hermione asked Draco as they were brewing.
"Just having a lot of alcohol and kicking back to have a good time. The twins have the music taken care of. I think we might even play some drinking games. Then there is the countdown to midnight and the snogging that follows it," he told her.
"You do realize that tradition only dictates a short kiss at midnight," Severus told Draco with a smirk.
"Yes, but no woman can resist my charms. Just one kiss and they are snogging me senseless," he said laughing.
"I seriously doubt that fact," Ginny said with an evil glint in her eye. "I bet that almost every woman in this house, save Gabrielle, would be able to resist your so called charms."
"I sense a challenge in your tone there Red," he said with a smirk, "Name your terms."
"You kiss every woman here and for every kiss that lasts longer than let's say 5 seconds, I or one of the others will take one of your patrol shifts when we get back to school. But if it's as I say and Gabrielle is the only one affected by your charms, you take my patrols for a month." Ginny said with a grin.
"Deal," Draco said and they shook hands as Severus and Hermione chuckled. "So when shall we start this little experiment of yours?"
"Its lunch time, perhaps you could start now," Hermione offered with a hidden smile. She thought the bet was funny. "I can't wait to see the Prince of Slytherin taken down a notch or two."
"You're just jealous," Draco said smiling. "You know that you would fail a similar bet with the males here."
"I actually don't think I would. I have much more charm than you," Hermione said sweetly.
"Would you like to prove it?" Draco asked her raising his eyebrows suggestively.
"I think I can get at least 10 kisses to last longer than 5 seconds, probably even 12," Hermione told him. "That is not including Dennis or my father and grandfather who I will not be kissing or Albus, Flitwick, Arthur, Frank, Moody and Mr. Lovegood who will only ever receive a peck."
"Alright, I'll bet my 1st edition of the Complex Transfiguration Manual that you can't get those 10 kisses," Draco said watching her eyes widen at the mention of such a great book. "And if you loose you have to take over my head responsibilities for a month."
"Deal," Hermione said with a grin. She didn't care if she lost since that book was something she desperately wanted.
Ginny hurried around the house telling every one of the bets so they could help Draco loose and Hermione win. She made sure all of the boys would accept Hermione's kisses and that the girls would push Draco away. She smirked at herself as she rigged the bet; it was such a Slytherin thing to do!
To make the bet fair they had decided to make a list and go to each person individually so that no one would catch on and cheat. It was Draco's idea; he had no idea Ginny had already spread the word. Ginny and Severus went around with them to witness and keep score.
Harry was the first one they found and Ginny finally had to smack them to break them up. "Hermione quit snogging my boyfriend. You've already passed the 5 second mark!" Harry and Hermione laughed. "That's Hermione 1 Draco 0."
Ron and Susan were next and they approached them together. Susan pushed Draco away instantly and Ron enjoyed the feeling of kissing Hermione again for a few moments. Neville and Luna and Justin and Hannah were the same way and Draco was starting to fret. Hermione already had 4 and he had 0! He did get Gabrielle to snog him but she didn't count according to the bet.
Colin was more than happy to go along with the bet and Dennis almost looked sad that Hermione wasn't going to kiss him. "I can't take away something as special as your first kiss," she had told him. Making up his mind, Dennis reached forward and brought his lips to hers. She kissed him back, it was tender and sweet.
"Wow!" Dennis said with a sappy grin. "I decided that most first kisses are awkward and not very good. Besides, all the guys say you are an amazing kisser, I had to find out for myself." Hermione smiled and kissed his cheek with a wink before leaving.
"That's 6 for me," she told Draco. "And one I didn't even have to work for. I can't wait to read that book. I can almost smell the old leather of it now."
Draco grinned as he saw Tonks and Remus knowing that at least Remus would push Hermione aside. Tonks pushed him off, "Gross Draco, you're my cousin! Why would you do that?" She asked wiping her mouth off and sending a discreet wink at Ginny. Hermione saw the wink and decided to take her chances on Remus. She had to hold in a giggle as he swept her into his arms and kissed her back.
"I had to see what all the fuss was about," he told them with a smile. "Thank you Hermione my dear that was a lovely kiss."
"My pleasure Remus, you were not too shabby yourself." She told him laughing at the dark look on Draco's face when he realized he was most likely going to loose both bets.
Charlie rounded the corner just after Hermione finished kissing Remus. "What is going on here?" He asked and Ginny realized that she hadn't had a chance to talk with him yet.
"Nothing special," Hermione said smiling up at him. "We were just debating who to kiss at midnight. I've been taking requests," she told him watching him swallow heavily. "Would you be interested in adding your name to the list of potential candidates?"
Charlie nodded in approval as his voice had failed him. She was slowly approaching him. "You have to pass the test first," she told him with a sultry smile. "The best kisser gets to kiss me again at midnight. So far Remus is in the lead, think you can do better?" He nodded again before she pressed her lips to his and he lost all ability to think rationally.
Ginny and Tonks were laughing at the smooth way she handled the situation, especially how she didn't give him any false hopes that the kiss had ulterior motives. They knew she didn't want to lead him on any. After they moved off from Charlie Ginny grinned at Draco, "That makes it 8 for her already and she hasn't even finished going through my brothers yet!"
They found Fred, George, Lee and their girlfriends in the parlor with Bill and Fleur. Draco struck out with the girls and started to grumble as each of the boys locked lips with Hermione, in front of their girlfriends even! Hermione smiled as she finished kissing Bill. "Well that makes 12 already; I think that was the original number I mentioned. Your only options for a woman to kiss you back are Minerva, Sprout, Molly Alice, Mrs. Fig, Mrs. Longbottom or my mum and grandmother." She smirked as he ran the odds in his head that one of those ladies would let him kiss them.
"So who are you going to kiss at midnight then?" Charlie asked looking hopeful.
"That is for me to know and none of you to find out. You'll all be too busy with your significant others to notice who I choose to kiss." She said with a smile.
The party was fun. There was lots of dancing and chatting. Everyone was invited, even Hermione's family. There were a few different groups of people talking. The aurors had their own conversation going and Harry had joined in. He looked very excited about something. "This is great!" He said to Moody and Kingsley. "So I am officially an auror now?"
"Arthur has authorized it; you will officially start work tomorrow. That is also when your privileges are instated. You will have full auror privileges, including getting to use some pretty nasty potions and access to classified ministry files." Tonks told him proudly.
"You're the youngest full auror in history," Frank told him with a grin. "Even those who start training their 7th year never finish before they are 19 and here you are just 17!"
"Your parents would be so proud of you," Alice told him giving him a hug.
"So I have the ability to arrest people, hex people and use the unforgivables in necessary situations." Harry said out loud still unable to believe it. "I'm an auror, wow."
"You still have to take your NEWTs," Tonks told him jokingly. "It wouldn't do for anyone to think you're not qualified when this story breaks."
"When will the general public find out?" Harry asked them curiously. His training had been kept very confidential.
"When you graduate or when it is necessary to reveal the information, whichever comes sooner." Moody told him, "Now just because you have these privileges doesn't mean you can use them on a whim. And remember to keep constant vigilance even more so now that you have finished training."
"When do I start the job for real?" He asked them after agreeing with Moody.
"After you graduate," Kingsley told him. "You'll work part time with the other aurors over the summer on small jobs. After the summer you will start full time and will be assigned a partner for your first year or two."
"Great," Harry said beaming. "I've got to go tell my friends!" He ran off to tell Ginny.
The twins told jokes in between songs. Everyone was pleasantly buzzed from the alcohol and having a great time. "Dance with me Hermione!" George said while pulling her to the dance floor. He spun her around easily and she was surprised with how well he was dancing. It was nothing like the twins usual and strange way of dancing. "Did I tell you how sexy you look this evening?" He asked her with a smile as he pulled her closer. She had decided to wear one of the new outfits her mother had given her for Christmas. This was a black cat suit. It was a fitted body with a v-neck that was at a modest level in front and dipped quite low in the back. The legs flared out in a boot cut and it was long sleeved. Her mother had told her it was club wear for colder seasons. She was wearing a silver belt around the waist and her favorite boots. She has pulled her hair back into a messy bun to keep it out of the way. She hadn't thought she looked sexy at all but George couldn't stop staring at her so she guessed it was true.
"My turn," Fred said spinning her away from George into a lively dance. She was laughing and actually enjoying the interesting dance by the end. "He was right you know you do look incredible tonight." Fred told her before spinning her into Bill's arms.
"I thought you could use a break from Fred's interesting dance style," Bill told her and led her in a clam but lively swing tune. "You dance very well, not many people know how to dance to this type of music. It's muggle from the 1940's right?"
"Yep," she said as he spun her around again. "I love this music; it's called Big Band because there were supper clubs that had full bands that would play this stuff in the states." She smiled as she watched her grandparents dancing. They had introduced her to this type of music.
"Mind if I take a turn?" Arthur Weasley asked her as the next song began. "I see you have captured the attention of all my boys," he said with a laugh as he led her in a quick two step. "Is your family settling in alright?"
"They are doing much better than I ever expected," Hermione told him. "My dad is so excited to be here and is reading every book he can get his hands on. Even my grandparents seem to be fine. I was surprised with how well they took the news that I was a witch and that magic was real. It makes me wish I had told them sooner. I didn't see them very much after I got my letter in case I would slip up in front of them."
"What about your extended family, are they all safe?" He asked realizing that any aunts/uncles/cousins were never talked about.
"I don't have an extended family," she told him. "Both my parents were only children and my mum's parents died before I was born. So it's just the 5 of us."
"It must have been a shock then the first time you were at the Burrow," he said and they laughed.
"I kind of like having such a large extended family," she told him with a grin. "I inherited two best friends, four older brothers and surrogate parents all for being attacked by a troll in a bathroom when I was 11!"
"We're awfully glad to have you as part of the family," he told her with a kiss to her forehead before handing her off to dance with Charlie.
"You look incredible tonight," Charlie told her trying not to stare too much. "Are you having a good holiday?"
"It's nice to have all of my family and friends in one place," she told him. "Usually I only have the chance to see one or the other. I just wish that it was under different circumstances. I hate the idea that my being a witch put my family in danger."
"They were in danger regardless," he told her. "They are muggles and you-know-who and his minions love killing and torturing muggles. If you weren't a witch you wouldn't have been able to save them."
She smiled up at him with tears in her eyes. She hadn't really thought of it like that. "Thanks Charlie I needed to hear that," she kissed his cheek as the song ended and hurried over to hug her parents. Charlie just stood there with his hand touching where she had kissed him.
"You need to get over her," Ron told his brother. "I know you still fancy her and I can't blame you there bro, but she doesn't think of you like that. I should know since she treats us both the same way. Don't read too much into the peck on the cheek. It just shows that she is comfortable around you, nothing more."
"How do I get over her?" Charlie asked him seriously. "I haven't met anyone since I got back to England. I am stuck at Hogwarts all year, how am I supposed to meet some girl?"
"You have weekends off. Use them to go to London or someplace where you can meet single and beautiful women." Ron offered unhelpfully.
"Do I still get to admire her?" Charlie asked with a smile as they watched Hermione dance with her father, "Because she is very easy on the eyes." Ron just shook his head laughing at how hopeless his brother was before heading back to dance with Susan.
"I have two more members that I think would be beneficial to bring into the order," Albus told Minerva, Severus and Arthur. "They won't be available for missions or even most meetings but I think they would be valuable none the less."
"Well who are they Albus?" Minerva said hating how he could never just tell someone something outright.
"Tom from the Leaky Caldron and Rosemerta from the Three Broomsticks," he told her with a smile. "They overhear many things from their patrons that could be useful to us."
"Are you sure they are trustworthy?" Severus asked him skeptically. "They both gossip too much, what if they spilled our secrets?"
"I agree," Minerva told him, "it's a big risk."
"Nonsense," Albus told them still smiling. "Rosemerta has always helped us in any way she could and I know you trust her. Tom is a good man as well and it would be helpful to have him on our side."
"When will you initiate them then?" Arthur asked realizing that there was no use debating with Albus once he had made up his mind.
"Tomorrow night, we will have a last order meeting before we all get back to Hogwarts," he told them and wandered off in search of sweets.
"Do you think this is smart?" Minerva asked Severus.
"Albus is right in his assumptions that they are on our side, they will just have to be told how important it is to keep this information to themselves." He told her and Arthur agreed. "Besides, we should never turn away willing allies."
Hermione noticed that it was only a few minutes to midnight and she still hadn't danced with her research partner. "Will you dance with me Severus?" She asked him with a smile while holding out her hand to him. He nodded and she led him to the middle of the dance floor. She smirked when the music shifted to a slow ballad. He pulled her closer into a waltz position and gracefully guided her around the floor.
"I'm sure the Weasley boys have told you already, but you look enchanting this evening." He told her softly so as not to be overheard. "I am particularly fond of you in black." She laughed and swatted his shoulder playfully.
"You look dashing yourself tonight," she told him noticing that his hair was looking great thanks to her shampoo and that he had foregone the usual robes and was just in a pair of black trousers and a black cashmere sweater. "I love cashmere," she said running her hand over his sweater, not noticing his posture stiffen at the innocent gesture.
Severus was enjoying having her in his arms, even if it was a form of slow torture. He knew his advances would never be welcomed, he was too old and too cantankerous for her to ever consider him. But he casually drew her closer none the less just to relish the small amount of time he could pretend she was his. He mentally chided himself for being such a fool; he was acting like lovesick Charlie Weasley for cripes sake! The difference being he was so subtle that no one realized he had fallen head over feet for his young apprentice.
He was startled from his musings when the room started to chant the countdown to midnight, 10… 9… 8... He was also surprised to find Hermione still in his arms, 7… 6… 5… he had expected her to run off to be near whoever it was she had chosen to kiss at midnight, 4… 3… 2... She smiled up at him and he felt the entire world slow down, 1… Happy New Year! She leaned up and gently brushed her lips against his. He knew it was wrong but he pulled her deeper into his embrace and kissed her back.
Hermione smiled to herself when Severus pulled her closer after getting over the initial shock. He was the best kisser in the room and that was why she had chosen him, or at least that was what she was trying to convince herself of. She wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her fingers into his hair, enjoying the feeling of being so secure in his embrace. She didn't even consciously make the decision to open her mouth and run her tongue along his lips begging entry.
Severus tried to calm his racing heart as he felt her arms snake around him and her tongue beg entrance to his mouth. He opened for her, who was he to deny her anything? She tasted divine, like a mix of apple and chocolate. Her lips were soft and tender yet set him on fire. He knew that even though she would never want him, he would never stop wanting her. She was exquisite and almost more than his battered heart could handle.
Hermione finally pulled away when she needed air and breathlessly said, "Happy New Year Severus."
"Happy New Year to you Hermione," he said with one of his very rare smiles. He couldn't help but smile after a kiss like that. She smiled back as he released her from his arms and she headed off to find her friends.
Severus looked across the room to see the all Grangers watching him, obviously having seen the kiss. He wondered at their reaction and was surprised to see a smile on the women's faces and even more startled when Pip nodded to him. Severus nodded back and was saved from having to further analyze the situation by Remus clapping him on the back. "I didn't think you had it in you," he said to his black clad friend. "But she certainly seemed to enjoy your kiss."
"Ah, but it was I who enjoyed her kiss." Severus told him with a smirk to hide the grin that was trying to break through.
"She kissed you huh?" Remus said with a chuckle. "I wondered who she had decided to kiss at midnight. If you remember earlier she mentioned to Charlie that she was going to kiss who she determined to be the best kisser at midnight. I guess you won."
"Yes, that must be the reason," Severus said trying to decide if he was crushed that was the reason she had kissed him or flattered that she so enjoyed his kisses.
Ginny pulled away from Harry's lips to draw breath and was shocked to see Hermione wrapped in Severus' arms and kissing him, really kissing him. Before she could turn back to Harry she was overcome with a vision. She saw Hermione and Severus in the same position only this time she was wearing an elegant navy blue gown with silver details and he was in fine dress robes. They were standing next to a man in a crown and people were clapping for them.
"Ginny?" Harry asked shaking her this time, wondering why she had gone so still. "Are you alright?"
Ginny snapped out of the vision when Harry shook her. "I'm fine Harry," she said with a smile to him and kissed him again. She needed to think hard on this vision, because if what her gut was telling her was true, she knew a secret that she didn't want to be responsible for.
"Can you believe that 'Moine kissed Snape?" Ron asked as he came up to them. "I mean, gross!"
"Relax Ronald," Ginny told him rolling her eyes. "They were dancing before the countdown and were therefore standing next to each other at midnight. You're supposed to kiss the closest person."
"Yeah, but she really kissed him!" He said with exaggerated gestures.
"Perhaps she has had as much to drink as you have," Susan said with narrowed eyes. "That would explain why she did it and why you're acting like a jealous prat!"
"He always acts like a jealous prat," Ginny told her and they both giggled. "Come on Harry's let's dance, the night is still young!"